APPETITE – TURNING OFF THE HUNGER SWITCH

How can it be in this day and age, when millions are dying of starvation in 3rd world nations, millions are dying of malnutrition in first world nations? How is it that the world’s obese are amongst the world’s most malnourished people?

Reading yet another diet-related news story today, I was urged by a friend to do a follow up – especially in regard to the fallacies surrounding diet companies – and those currently in charge (well, publicly, anyway) of diets – the family doctor. Imagine a diet that promises to turn off the hunger switch?

Most would be shocked to learn that doctors have zero training in dietetics. Well that’s a little fib – they do have about 6 hours of training during their entire medical school degree.

How can that help you? It can’t. Think about it – that is less than your child learns during school. Health, Phys Ed, Home Ec and eventually Human Biology – hours and hours of diet info taught during school hours. So who is better equipped to teach you about diet?

Well, unless it’s an independent school with a forward thinking staff who actually have credentials in natural health, neither.

Why is it, even now, that the world gets excited about some obscure ‘recently discovered’ miracle herb or diet that has been found in a remote area, where the inhabitants have been disconnected from – or never been involved with – modern day living?

Why is it that fortunes are still being made from these discoveries? Because until less than a century ago, most colonies, most societies were disjointed from mainstream western society. And even then, small cell groups grew and made their own food from organically grown (without even knowing it), never ate processed foods and never became trapped in the ‘health system’. Even in lean times, health was not an issue. Because no ‘miracle’ foods were peddled – fasting was common, herbs were part of every day diets, water was actually drunk instead of cordials, sodas, sugary alcohol, tons of milk (which was seen more as a treat, rather than a supposed health food), meat was a rare ingredient and processed foods just didn’t exist. Imagine the brown, crusty, seedy dry bread of the day.

Fast forward a few decades and clever entrepreneurs brought out incredible discoveries that no modern household could do without. Eventually, that entrepreneurship branched into advertising, sales bids and the most powerful of all, education. Governments were conned, books were written and doctors who even then, knew little about diet, turned to these books for guidance. And a whole new industry flourished – teaching up and coming new potential wives and mothers learned all they could to make the whitest, fluffiest, sweetest, tastiest meals. The sugar, meat, wheat, salt and dairy industries had arrived.

What does this have to do with weightloss? Everything. Along with those industries, many age-old industries fell away. All of a sudden, bread was white, every meal had meat, sugar had to be in everything, processed salt replaced dirty brown (full of nutrients) salt, cakes of all types were part of every evening meal and dairy – let’s not forget the food meant for calves – that grown adults were now downing by the litre.

All of a sudden, you were not a good cook if you could not make a fluffy sponge, steak tartare or dianne, puddings, souffles, creamy fillings, sugary drinks, puffy pastries or heavy roasts.

Breakfast went from (healthy) wholeseed/grain porridges and raw food snacks, toast and pancakes, to bread, cereal, processed fruit juice, coffee, flavoured milk and cooked fatty feasts. These became the ‘balanced breakfast’ we all now know and love. The only water in sight was that tainted with additives, colours, sugars and dairy.

Snacks went from some fresh food from the tree or garden, to cooked snacks, toasted sandwiches, lots of cakes and loaves – and let’s not forget iced coffee, cocoa or a can of coke (and later on, energy drinks).

Lunch became a fast convenient meal, rather than the only meal that should have carried any real weight. Pies, cakes, fried chips, ‘salad’ rolls full of sugary relishes and meat – even fully cooked stodgy meals.

Evening meal became the heaviest of the day, ensuring slow metabolism and sluggishness. It was previously little more than a supper. Upper class dinner parties were eventually taken on by anyone wanting to impress – and they stayed. Three, four, five and even more course meals left humanity with nowhere to go. Even ‘diet’ versions of these effluent-resembling trifles left the poor digestive system of the individual battling to cope with the job of breaking down and utilising the nutrients – which by now, were in deficit.

Foods in season which had previously kept generations healthy, were now available all year round, thanks to hybrid seeds, new growing methods, artificial fertilisers and processing.

In fact, ‘3 square meals a day’ that doctors quote had nothing to do with balanced diet. Square shaped plates on sailing ships ensured the plates could be stored – yet ‘experts’ still explain this phrase as the measuring-stick for healthy eating. And it was not coined until the 1960s as a meal guide – meaning well off people (or even upper society ‘squares’) were able to afford 3 meals a day.

So not only were we eating many times more than our forefathers, but that glut of food contained very few nutrients. Diabetes, heart disease, cancers, arthritis, alzheimers, mental health, circulatory diseases and yes, obesity – which were usually congenital or found in very rare individuals, all became a common fixture, even expected. Pharmaceutical companies jumped at the chance to profit from these changes – it’s no coincidence that pharmaceutical companies own most growing/farming companies, providing fertilisers, pesticides, and myriad farming products that today’s farmer cannot live without, in the battle to keep up with the demand. And those same pharmaceutical companies make profits exponentially higher than just 100 years ago – thanks to disease increase.

And pharmaceutical companies also have the biggest stakes in diet companies. There is no miracle diet pill that will ever do what it claims. There is no diet that includes all the modern processed foods that will ever ensure weightloss accompanies by health. But somehow in the journey, health has become the poor second cousin in comparison to the holy grail of a size 10.

Nowadays, no diet can be started without the warning “Check with your doctor” – why? What can a doctor possibly do that would even compare to losing weight and gaining health? Other than prescribing more medication to ‘assist’ you – which also come with deadly side effects.

The facts are simple –

* Weightloss should never result in ill health.

* Weightloss using acidic, unhealthy foods is not beneficial.

* Starvation diets supplemented with appetite-suppressing pills and low nutrient foods is not beneficial – nor will they be permanent.

* High carb diets are not beneficial – to anyone.

* High protein diets consisting of meat and dairy are not beneficial.

* Incorrect weightloss will not miraculously remove heart disease or predisposition to cancer – in fact, it will encourage or even trigger it.

* Calories have nothing at all to do with weightloss or health.

* Fruit should never replace fresh vegetables as too many will make your blood acidic due to the high sugar content.

And that brings us to the topic of this thread – eating low nutrient diets will result in an increased appetite. Why is it that children are always hungry? If they were given high nutrient foods they would rarely get hungry. High carb diets do nothing but aggravate the nervous system and destroy the digestive system.

The truth of the matter is simple. If you eat a low carb, high nutrient diet, you will not only lose weight but gain health. You may even bring about a cure of existing disease. And finally, regular fasting – whether for 12 hours every night, or one or more days a week is beneficial. Yes, there is much more to it, but the facts are facts :

* Doctors are not qualified to advise on weightloss.

* Pre-fabbed weight loss products will do no more than make money for the company.

* High impact exercise is not suitable for obese or chronically ill people.

* Any weightloss without whole, healthy, alkaline foods will not be permanent.

* High carb, low nutrient foods WILL ensure the individual is hungry within a short time of eating.

* Cravings are merely a sign of nutrient deficiency.

* Eating whole, healthy, alkaline foods WILL reduce your appetite – to the point you may have to remind yourself that it is time to eat.

So what is the best way to eat? No, I don’t expect many ‘experts’ to agree with me, as even dietetics text books advise that even the worst diet can be adjusted for weight loss purposes. The fact is, if you eat the wrong food, your body will become highly acidic – which is the basis for all disease and inflammation. Even back to the womb – a poor diet during pregnancy, lots of unhealthy cravings and eating for two will give the new baby the worst start in life, which no doubt will continue into adulthood. By then, if the young adult researches their own health info they may avoid chronic ill health (now accepted in society), otherwise, old age will be one of aches and pains and poor, frail health.

Sadly, most people will refuse to eat a health meal in order to lose weight – even if it means they just might gain good health. I have had patients tell me they will not be forced to change their diet – yet expect me to work a miracle. Okay, so I have been fortunate to study many modalities (including natural nutrition) but any cure will be temporary if you are abusing your body every single day.

* Breakfast – a raw food smoothie consisting of raw food and filtered water. This can include anything really – beetroots, carrots, celery, spinach, berries, pears, avocados, etc. Add some superfoods – maca, acai, barley green or wheat grass, soaked seeds and nuts (no, they do not make you fat – except peanuts which are not a nut at all). Blend on high speed and enjoy. In fact, most people could not drink a full smoothie. IF you cannot get your head around not eating a ‘hearty’ breakfast, try a whole seed bread with a healthy topping of sliced tomatoes or even a healthy spread – they are out there. Lots of water and a herbal tea – one that will encourage digestion, clear thought and calm.

* Snacks – sticks of raw food, a handful of nuts, water. A healthy dip like babaganoush, tahini or hommus can be used to add weight to the diet without adding it to your hips. If you like fruit, remember that it should be treated as a rare treat – the few exceptions are pear, melon and berries.

* Lunch – seed bread or crackers, a non-dairy spread (butter replacement) topped with salad. Or just have a salad by itself. A great dressing can be made by blending a handful of cashews or macadamias, a teaspoon of curry powder, a pinch of stevia or apple syrup (sugar free and additive free), a good grind of himalayan or sea salt and your choice of pepper, half a teaspoon of ground garlic or crushed garlic, 1 teaspoon of parsley, 1 tablespoon of good olive oil, 1 cup of filtered water and juice from a lemon or lime. ANY salad can be made palatable if you think about it. Eat as much as you like – it will keep you going all day. Again, lots of water.

* Evening meal – should be lighter than we are accustomed to. Again, a salad, steamed fresh vegetables – think spinach, carrots, swede, Chinese greens. Use the lunch dressing to top. For protein, cook some quinoa or brown rice if you can’t get quinoa. If you want ‘meat’ try any of the meat alternatives now available in most supermarkets. Prepared properly, most meat eaters would be hard pressed to know. Lots of water. IF you must have a dessert, there are many, many brilliant raw food desserts out there now – feel free to add some here. Or request if you can’t find them. Chocolate puddings, sorbets and even icecreams minus all the regular stodgy mess are so easy to make – less than 5 minutes. And if you get serious, a dehydrator can help you make flans and pies and snacks totally guilt free but taste like nothing you could find at a regular restaurant.

Eating in this way is a 100% sure way to lose weight. And keep it off. Not just that, you just may lose that health issue. And you are never hungry – in fact, you will quite possibly need to set a reminder for the next meal…

If you want to learn more why I continue to make such comments as opposed to what your doctor will tell you, please feel free to ask. The article above was correct on many levels – just not the comments such as eat less or cut vital components of a healthy diet out. You will save money and it wont cost the earth. Bon apetit.